The Abia State University Alumni Association Lagos Chapter (otherwise known as LasLegend) has donated food items and household gifts to the Bales of Mercy Orphanage Home in Bariga, Lagos, to mark its end-of-year activities.
The association’s president, Mrs Hilda Nkor, who led its members to the facility in the Bariga area of the state on Saturday, said the donation was part of its effort to give back to society.
Items donated to the orphanage include a bag of rice, drinks, staple foods, and toiletries among others.
Nkor, who spoke to TheNigerian Metro after the donation, said the group interacted with the children during the visit and found many of them intelligent.
She added the children were excited to receive the group, while also describing the visit as a humbling experience for the alumni.
She said, “We have a culture, as an association, of giving back to society and showing love where it matters most. Christmas is the season when we celebrate the greatest love of all, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to die for our sins. He commanded us to love one another and so, that is the driving force behind this visit. We have done this in the past but with another organisation.
“The presentation went very well. The children were thrilled and excited to have us. We interacted with them and found many of them to be quite intelligent. It was a very humbling experience for us too as, with the little they had, they were quite happy and satisfied.”
Nkor also noted that the care of the less privileged should be everyone’s responsibility.
The group however called on the Federal Government to provide funding for orphanages caring for vulnerable children across the country, saying this will allow the administrators to focus on the care and development of the children.
She said, “The Government, as far as I know, has set up welfare offices all over the nation. They also regulate the activities of the orphanages and in some cases, support. However, I believe more can be done.
“There is a need to create more awareness of these orphanages/old people’s homes and guide the public on how to relate with them. Also, the government should look into funding them to a reasonable extent as this will allow the administrators to focus on the care and development of the beneficiaries.”
The orphanage’s founder, Ngozi Enyi-Igbokwe, appreciated the group for their visit.
She said, “We want to thank them for their time and kind gesture to the orphanage, including their gifts and prayers. It was a highly commendable thing that they did. We want to use this opportunity to thank them and appreciate their coming.”
